country
AzerbaijanAzərbaycan
First trip: get the e-visa on the official ASAN Visa portal before you fly, base in Baku for 3–4 nights, and stay away from the Armenia border and former conflict areas unless your own government's advice and a local licensed guide say otherwise.
Azerbaijan is a Baku trip with day-trips: the Old City, Fountains Square, the Heydar Aliyev Center, the Absheron peninsula and, further out, Gobustan and Sheki. The entry rules and the border situation are the real planning items. The e-visa is applied for online before you fly, the land border with Armenia is closed to travellers, and travel to the former conflict zone (Karabakh and neighbouring districts) carries permission rules and a mine risk. Check your own government's advice the week you travel.
All regions, cities and parks in Azerbaijan (Atlas) →
Regions
Capital and major cities
Routes that work
Baku only, 4 nights
Keep the Baku bed; send a day pack only.
- Fly into Baku; do the city first, then day-trips out of Baku, then any long road day.
- Do not plan an overland link with Armenia: the crossing is closed. Georgia and Iran are separate arrangements with their own visa rules.
- Winter (Dec–Feb) brings strong northerly winds and cold rain in Baku; summer is hot and humid.
Arrive
Time math
- 3 days
- Baku: Old City, Fountains Square, Heydar Aliyev Center, Flame Towers
- 5 days
- Baku 3 + Gobustan and Absheron day-trips
- 8 days
- Baku 4 + Sheki 2 + one road day, after your advisory check
Country rules
- Apply for the e-visa only on the official portal (ASAN Visa); lookalike sites charge extra.
- Azerbaijan's land border with Armenia is closed to ordinary travellers, and several governments advise against travel near it and in the former conflict areas because of mines and military zones. Read your own government's current advice before you book anything outside Baku and Absheron.
- Do not photograph military sites, government buildings or oil and gas installations; drones need a permit.
Etiquette
- Take shoes off in mosques and homes; cover shoulders and knees, and women cover their hair in mosques.
- Tea comes first: accept it, and expect a second glass.
- Photographing people close-up needs a nod first; no photos of military or police.
- Tip about 10% in restaurants where service is not included.
- Novruz (about Mar 20–24)
- Public holiday week; many businesses close, transport is busy.
- May 28 (Independence Day), Nov 8 (Victory Day)
- Public holidays; central closures and parades.
- Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend (dates change)
- Old City and Fountains Square roads closed; hotel prices multiply.
- Eid holidays (dates move yearly)
- Closures and heavy road traffic.
Money & passes
Cash necessity: 3/5
- Azerbaijani manat (AZN, ₼): cards work in Baku shops, hotels and restaurants; carry manat for markets, taxis and small cafés.
- Change money at bank branches or licensed exchange booths, not with street dealers.
- Ride-hailing apps (Bolt, Yandex Go) show a fare upfront; the BakiKart metro card is bought at stations.
Before you fly: eSIM before you fly · E-visa and entry
Safety
- Former conflict areas: mines and unexploded ordnance remain; go only with permission and a licensed guide, and read your government's advice first.
- Traffic in Baku is fast; cross at signals and use underpasses.
- Keep your passport or a copy on you and your hotel registration slip if asked.
- Emergency: 112 (single number); 101 fire, 102 police, 103 ambulance.
Azerbaijan connects to a planned Caucasus corridor only through Georgia; the Armenia land border is closed.
Sources
- Azerbaijan e-visa portal (ASAN Visa) (official)
- Azerbaijan Tourism Board (official)
- Heydar Aliyev International Airport (official)
- Wikivoyage — Azerbaijan (secondary)